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The Expert Patients Programme

A discussion paper by the Patient Liaison Group
December 2005

Foreword
The NHS Expert Patients Programme (EPP) has been developed to assist patients to self-manage their long-term medical conditions. The BMA patient liaison group reports here on the history behind the development of the EPP and on initial evaluations of the success of the pilot phase of the programme, judged by criteria such as improved patient wellbeing and the reduced need to access NHS services. The EPP is also considered from the GP perspective and how the programme could be more closely tied to mainstream primary care. Raising awareness of the EPP amongst both healthcare providers and patients – including traditionally hard-to-reach patient groups – is highlighted.

The need for further comparison with other types of self-management interventions is explored and the requirement for further research and debate is evaluated, including the evidence to measure the effectiveness of EPP. The paper concludes with case studies of four patients’ experiences of the EPP, and of experiences of the EPP in primary care, including interviews with three GPs.

The NHS intends to mainstream the EPP by 2008. It is therefore timely to consider how the programme can be optimised, including its evidence base. Questions have been posed throughout this discussion paper (and are listed together here), and the BMA patient liaison group is keen to hear your opinions and experiences. A BMA position paper on the EPP, reflecting doctors’ and patients’ views will be published in 2006/07.


Dr Sam Everington
Deputy chairman of council

If you would like to comment on this paper, please send your responses to:
Science & Education Department
British Medical Association
BMA House
Tavistock Square
London WC1H 9JP
Email: info.science@bma.org.uk